Jack Wallen

Mobile Linux users have a variety of options when it comes to wireless connectivity tools. Jack Wallen outlines some of the best choices to help you find one that will work for you.

OpenOffice offers a host of essential features, but as with most software, it would be nice to have it do just a little bit more. Jack Wallen has sorted through the scores of available OpenOffice add-ons to find 10 that are particularly well suited to simplifying business tasks.

You don’t have to settle for an OS that’s a bad fit for your netbook — there are numerous alternatives, some of which can provide a near-laptop experience. Jack Wallen runs through the pros and cons of 10 viable Linux distributions.

This Techrepublic Gallery will introduce you to the KDE 4 desktop. From this gallery you will see just how simple and user-friendly the KDE desktop is. KDE has undergone some drastic changes from version 3 to version 4. Some feel the changes were a step back. I think, after viewing this gallery, you will agree the changes were a step forward.

This Techrepublic gallery will introduce you to the GNOME desktop. After viewing this gallery you should feel fairly confident that the GNOME desktop contains all of the standard features that a computer desktop should have. You should also feel confident that the GNOME desktop would be a user-friendly experience.

Mastering iptables could take a while, but if you have a few rules to cover the basic security needs, you’ll be well on your way to protecting your Linux system. Jack Wallen explains some key rules to get you started.

Linux offers a variety of options for those who want an alternative to iTunes. Jack Wallen looks at the available choices and the features included in each one.

Despite its low profile, Opera offers a host of features that set it apart from the browser pack. According to Jack Wallen, Opera is fast and stable — and it contains many features other browsers can’t touch.

Before debating the relative merits and shortcomings of Linux and Windows, it helps to understand the real distinctions between them. Jack Wallen has distilled the key differences into one list.

On those infrequent occasions when you need to reboot Linux, you may find that the process takes longer than you’d like. Jack Wallen shares a number of tricks you can use to reduce boot times.

Jack Wallen shows you how to install True Type fonts on your Fedora or Ubuntu Linux machine and how to make key applications (such as OpenOffice and Scribus) aware of those fonts.

A few simple keyboard shortcuts can make your work in Linux far more efficient. Jack Wallen runs through 10 of his favorites, for both desktop environments and window managers.